New Delhi, 18th June 2025: In a strong push to recognise women’s growing role in infrastructure and real estate development, NAREDCO Mahi, the women’s wing of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), convened a focused media interaction in the national capital today. While the session also served as a curtain raiser to the 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention, scheduled for 27th June, it focused sharply on the growing momentum of women-led development and the need to bring more women into India’s urban transformation story aligned with the nation’s Viksit Bharat vision for 2047.
Speakers pointed out that India’s real estate sector, currently valued at over $265 billion, is projected to touch $1 trillion by the end of this decade, contributing nearly 13% to the national GDP. Despite this high-growth potential, women still form only around 11 to 12 percent of the sector’s total workforce. However, change is underway. From project planning and design to compliance, construction supervision, and investment management, women are now increasingly involved in every layer of the real estate value chain.
Ms. Smita Patil, President, NAREDCO Mahi, shared that the organization is actively engaging with stakeholders to create inclusive pathways for women in the sector. She stated that beyond boardroom conversations, NAREDCO Mahi has been working on ground-led interventions around skilling and training for young women, climate-sensitive construction practices, sanitation and safety measures at construction sites, water conservation models at realty projects, and solid waste management frameworks for developers. She said that NAREDCO Mahi’s outreach has extended to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where women are now increasingly visible in marketing, legal, project finance, and client relations roles—areas once perceived as inaccessible to them.
Ms. Patil added that the upcoming 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention will feature powerful narratives and real-world experiences of women transforming the real estate sector. One of the most anticipated segments will be a special session showcasing father-daughter duos who have broken generational stereotypes to shape modern realty leadership in India. The convention will also feature ‘Recognition of Mahi Sheroes,’ policy masterclasses, and a sectoral discussion on wellness living and sustainable housing—an area witnessing a compound annual growth rate of over 16 percent and emerging as one of the most sought-after trends in post-pandemic urban development.
Dr. Ananta Singh Raghuvanshi, Chairperson, NAREDCO Mahi, said that the upcoming convention is a leadership statement as much as an industry platform. She said that women are bringing empathy, precision, and people-centric innovation to how real estate is built and sold. Through focused initiatives in skilling, financial literacy, digital transformation, and sustainability, NAREDCO Mahi is working to increase women’s presence at all stages of the real estate journey—from conceptualisation to delivery.
Shri G Hari Babu, National President, NAREDCO, said that India’s journey to becoming one of the world’s top three economies cannot exclude the participation of half its population. He stated that women are no longer merely participants—they are project heads, entrepreneurs, investors, and reformers who bring both strategic vision and social awareness to infrastructure and housing development. He added that from working in cooperative movements post-independence to taking boardroom roles today, Indian women have consistently shown leadership in the face of challenges.
The session highlighted that over 20 percent of registered architects in India today are women, increasingly taking the lead in urban planning, heritage conservation, and sustainable design practices. In Tier 1 cities, nearly 15 percent of real estate brokerage and advisory firms are now women-led, a significant rise compared to a decade ago. While women make up around 10 percent of the construction workforce—largely in finishing and supervisory roles—there is a steady uptick in the number of women entering skilled positions, including site engineering and material management, especially through formal skilling programs and digital certifications. The allied sectors of interior design, legal real estate compliance, ESG advisory, green certification, and digital realty platforms are seeing over 35 to 40 percent female participation, particularly in metros and upcoming urban clusters.
“Women leaders today are not just transforming real estate, they are redefining the business of building India. As developers, strategists, financiers, and policymakers, they bring sharp commercial acumen and enduring vision that is reshaping our urban economy. Empowering women in leadership roles is no longer a social conversation; it’s a strategic business decision. Their ability to balance risk, drive innovation, and lead with resilience is unlocking new opportunities across the value chain, from housing finance and construction technology to urban planning and sustainability,” said Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, NAREDCO.
Mr. Harsh Vardhan Bansal, President, NAREDCO Delhi, expressed that with more than 30 percent of startups in India now being led by women, the real estate sector must catch up with the country’s broader shift toward gender-balanced growth. He said that qualities like multitasking, emotional intelligence, and long-term vision—often overlooked in infra projects—are being brought to the forefront by women professionals who are reshaping not just homes but also communities. He added that the soft power of women can be a game-changer in how India thinks about liveability, affordability, and sustainable development in the years ahead.
The 4th NAREDCO Mahi Convention is expected to bring together policy leaders, developers, real estate strategists, financial institutions, academics, and social change agents to discuss how women can play a central role in India’s infrastructure journey. As the country prepares its blueprint for Viksit Bharat, NAREDCO Mahi is ensuring that women are not only part of the narrative—but are at the helm of it.
